Maoist central committee member Asim Mandal captured in West Bengal after 15 years on the run
Asim Mandal, the last surviving Maoist central committee member, was arrested in East Midnapore, West Bengal, ending a 15-year evasion of authorities.
West Bengal’s chief minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed that Asim Mandal, the sole remaining member of the Maoist central committee, was taken into custody in the East Midnapore district. He highlighted the West Bengal Police’s sophisticated technical intelligence and operational skill in ending Mandal’s 15-year flight through forested border areas. Earlier this year, Maoist Politburo member Misir Besra was apprehended in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, and officials had warned that Mandal’s capture was imminent.
In August, Jharkhand authorities announced a ₹1.34 crore bounty for tips on six Maoists, among them Mandal, who carried a ₹1 crore reward. The state’s intensified anti-Maoist drive has resulted in the arrest of 113 militants, the surrender of 50, and the killing of several, including central committee member Patiram Majhi and activist Lalchand Hembram. West Singhbhum was declared free of Maoist activity in August, and Jharkhand now reports only 18 Maoists remain at large, including Mandal.
